Ch. 39 - Zhong Yansheng: The sequel to

Hearing the old man's low voice, Tian Xi's back was sweating even more. However, after many years in the inner court, he had developed the habit of not showing any emotion. He still bowed and served beside him with a smile, and asked carefully: "Then your majesty means..."The old man's skinny fingers fell on the third painting, stroking the petal birthmark on the thin neck, and his tone was still gentle: "It's a pity that my Xi'er is being watched by the evil wolf and can't come back. Tian Xi, what do you say we should do?"

Tian Xi had entered the palace since he was a child and had accompanied the old man for decades. He should have been the person who knew his temperament and behavior best, but in recent years he felt that he could not see through him more and more, especially when it came to that person. Even though he had been in the palace for decades and had seen all kinds of storms and waves, he still felt terrified.

He hesitated and made a chopping gesture implicitly: "Then we can only... take it back."

The old man smiled and shook his head: "How can you rob openly? This evil wolf is strong and fierce. It even dares to bite me."

Without waiting for Tian Xi to speak again, the old man slowly rolled up the scroll on the desk and said leisurely, "The tea you brew has always been to my liking, but today's tea lacks some flavor. I am old and can't even taste it anymore."

Tian Xi was shocked, and immediately fanned himself gently, saying, "It's my fault that I was clumsy. My hand was shaking, so I poured too much water, wasting the Yuye Changchun tea. It tasted bland. I'll make another one. Your Majesty, please don't despise me."

"Tian Xi, you are old too."

The old man was still in a friendly mood, not angry, and smiled and patted Tian Xi's arm: "Go."

A pleasing smile appeared on Tian Xi's round face again. After bowing, he carefully left the study. The cold wind blew outside, making the room feel chilly.

The eunuch who was guarding outside the room saw him coming out and hurried over to hand him a handkerchief: "Godfather."

The smile seemed to be embedded on his face, and he didn't let it go even after he left the door. Tian Xi ignored his godson and walked out with a heavy heart. He saw someone walking towards him in a hurry. He saluted with a smile on his face: "Your servant greets His Royal Highness Prince De. Are you here to see His Majesty? I'll go and pass on the message for you..."

Pei Yong always looked down on eunuchs. Even though Tian Xi was an old man around the old emperor, he never got a good face from him. He didn't even look at Tian Xi, but rushed past him to the study in a hurry: "Father! Your son wants to see you!"

The young eunuch beside him had an unpleasant expression on his face and couldn't help but lower his voice: "Even for the sake of Your Majesty, you should be more polite..."

Tian Xi raised his hand to stop him from speaking, then turned around to look at Pei Yong who pushed the door open. He was so arrogant when he was in favor, but it might not be the case in the future.

Tian Xi lowered his head and coughed slowly: "You are so talkative. Let's go and make another cup of tea for His Majesty."

Zhong Yansheng returned to his room with a pile of paint, only to remember that he had forgotten to buy pen and paper.

Can I borrow some from Xiao Nong's study? But I will be discovered by the secret guards who are following me.

Can I find a way to get them away?

After hesitating for a moment, Zhong Yansheng poked his head out and called out tentatively: "Brothers, are you still there?"

These days, the secret guards followed Zhong Yansheng. Xiao Nong did not allow them to appear without permission and scare the timid Xiao Yuan'er, so this was the first time they were called out after being discovered today.

A row of heads suddenly popped out of the window and looked at Zhong Yansheng silently.

What's the matter?

The master said that if the young master has the order, he can go through mountains of swords and seas of fire!

[T/L NOTE:- Like those shadow guards must follow Zhong's order no matter what.]

Zhong Yansheng turned his head and saw the row of black heads suddenly appearing. He was so scared that he almost jumped up.

Seeing that they all had expressionless and cold faces, their eyes were glaring at him with murderous intent. The thoughts that had been stirring just now were immediately extinguished. He choked up a little and said weakly, "I'm sorry to bother you. Why don't you just go back?"

Those bright eyes seemed to be half extinguished in an instant. It was not because they were angry for being called out and sent away inexplicably, but more like... a little disappointed?

Zhong Yansheng was a little confused. Before he could figure it out, a row of heads in the window nodded at him in unison and disappeared mysteriously.

Zhong Yansheng: "…"

I feel like my brother's men are weird.

But thinking about His Royal Highness Prince Ding's sometimes strange and unpredictable behavior and temper, I seemed to be able to vaguely understand it.

Since he couldn't paint yet, Zhong Yansheng had to hide the paints in the house out of habit. Then he took out the clay xun that Xiao Nong had given him from the bed curtain and tried to tinker with it and learn how to play it.

Putting the clay xun to his lips, Zhong Yansheng suddenly paused.

When Xiao Nong played the xun for him, his lips were pressed right here, so wouldn't he be...

The tip of the snow-white ear slowly turned blood-red. Zhong Yansheng glanced at the window and did not see any trace of the secret guards. However, he was still a little worried and planned to close the window.

When he walked over and looked down, he saw Taxue trying to jump into the house.

It turns out that Taxue jumps in through the window every day.

Zhong Yansheng met the eyes of the sly Taxue, and looking at the pair of deep blue eyes that appeared in the shadows, he vaguely remembered its owner.

It was like being watched by Xiao Nong.

The guilty feeling of being a thief came back again.

Zhong Yansheng immediately looked serious: "Taxue, you are shedding too much hair, you are not allowed to come in."

Then, in the big cat's blinded vision, the window slammed shut.

Taxue whimpered, jumped up and scratched the window. Zhong Yansheng disliked it for losing too much fur, and the depression was visibly evident on the leopard's face. When it saw that Zhong Yansheng would not open the door or the window for it, it lay down under the window with its tail in its mouth in sorrow.

The secret guards hanging on the eaves looked at Taxue, whom they usually did not dare to approach and who was indeed difficult to approach, like a wronged kitten. Their eyes changed again as they looked into the house: "..."

Awesome!

Playing the xun is quite difficult. Zhong Yansheng practiced secretly in the house for a long time, but he could only make a small sound.

While they were at it, Xiao Nong finally came back, much earlier than usual.

Zhong Yansheng put away the clay xun and went to the study obediently without Xiao coming to the room to pick him up. His Royal Highness Prince Ding had a lot of clothes, and today he changed into a silver-gray one, which made his body look more slender and three points colder and more solemn than the usual bright and vigorous colors.

After a while, Zhong Yansheng realized that it seemed not because of his clothes, but that Xiao Nong's expression was much colder than usual. He didn't know what he was thinking.

The secret guard following Zhong Yansheng just reported everything that Zhong Yansheng encountered when he went out. Meng Qiping was not important, but the person who was secretly spying on Zhong Yansheng ran away, which was the big problem.

Who else would be interested in his little bird?

Xiao Nong always had a keen sense of smell for bad things, and had already sent people to continue tracking the carriage parked outside the alley. Hearing the hesitant footsteps at the door of the study, he looked up and casually touched the head of Taxue who was lying beside him: "What are you doing standing at the door? Taxue is very depressed today, do you dislike him?"

His expression changed very quickly. He looked a little cold and solemn just now, but when he raised his head, there was a hint of a smile on his lips. Zhong Yansheng was amazed.

His Royal Highness Prince Ding's skill in changing faces is truly perfect.

He obediently stepped into the doorway and whispered, "I don't dislike him, it's just that the hair loss from Taxue is too severe. Is he going bald?"

Xiao Nong looked down at the fur on his hand, brushed his sleeves in disdain and took his hand back: "The weather is getting hot, it needs to shed its fur."

Zhong Yansheng was relieved, as long as he wouldn't become bald.

Being disliked by both of them, Taxue turned his head away dejectedly, facing their buttocks and refusing to look at them.

Xiao Nong didn't bother to care about the mood of this rogue big cat. He looked at Zhong Yansheng and casually patted the seat beside him: "Come here, I want to ask you something."

Normally, if Xiao Nong said the words "Let me ask you something", the scene would mostly be in a cold and gloomy private prison. The people who heard this were most likely covered in blood, tied to an iron frame and half-dead, but would still be trembling with fear after hearing his words.

Zhong Yansheng was unaware of anything, but he also felt a kind of inexplicable nervousness.

Obviously Xiao Nong's attitude last night could be described as gentle and patient, and he spent so much time and effort on him, but he became more nervous than before when he was afraid of Xiao Nong.

Zhong Yansheng felt like he was a little ungrateful.

His Royal Highness Prince Ding...is obviously a good brother, the brother in his mind.

He sat down awkwardly beside Xiao Nong with his head lowered. From Xiao Nong's perspective, he could see a small part of his exposed neck. The small birthmark, like a petal, happened to be on the slightly protruding cervical vertebra. It was snow-white with a hint of red, and very eye-catching.

It was obvious that this little bird had been in love with him for a long time, and he had agreed to it, so he didn't have to hide anymore.

But Zhong Yansheng has been living in the mansion for several days, and he still hasn't expressed anything. In the past, he would shyly give a seal or a painting to him.

It seems that he is too thin-skinned.

Xiao Nong thought affirmatively.

He swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth, narrowed his eyes slightly, and looked at the neck that was so charming in both its curve and color.

You can't bite or lick it, and you can't even touch it?

When in Mobei, Xiao Nong did whatever he wanted. It was a rare thing that he could be restrained from acting like a hooligan. As soon as the thought came to his mind, a big hand was already pressing on that neck. The skin under the palm was warm and so thin that it seemed like it would break if pinched. It could be easily pressed in the hand, which easily aroused people's desire for control.

The moment he touched it, the man's body seemed to freeze for a moment, and he trembled pitifully.

Xiao Nong found Zhong Yansheng's reaction interesting. He rubbed the cervical vertebra with the birthmark with his thumb. Every time he rubbed it, the child's neck became redder. Suddenly, except for the birthmark, every piece of skin turned red.

The culprit admired it with a smile, and his movements changed from kneading to a gentler caressing, and his voice became much softer: "Yuan Yuan, what grudge does Meng Qiping have against you?"

Zhong Yansheng's thin eyelids were rubbed by Xiao Nong until they turned red, and his black eyelashes kept trembling. He didn't understand why his brother, who was so gentle last night, became so bad today. He took a while to react to Xiao Nong's words before realizing that he was asking about what happened on the street today.

Maybe it's not just on the street, there's obviously a deeper meaning in Xiao Nong's words.

Before in Jinghua Garden, Zhong Yansheng was chased by Meng Qiping and his lackeys to the point where he had no way to escape, so he brought up Xiao Nong's name to intimidate them. But Xiao Nong happened to be in a bad mood at that time, and was about to come to Jinghua Garden to cause trouble for Prince De. He came in through the side door and heard his words from the other side of the dense flowers and trees.

I guess he didn't hear our conversation at all.

Zhong Yansheng bit his lip, not knowing what to say.

When talking about the mess with Meng Qiping, one has to mention the drugged person that night, but he didn't want to recall what happened on Meng Qiping's houseboat that day, nor did he want to mention that incident again.

Seeing that Zhong Yansheng looked sullen and didn't want to talk, Xiao Nong didn't ask any more questions. He said slowly, "If you don't want to talk, don't talk. I just want to tell you that if you are wronged, don't hold it in. I will support you."

Zhong Yansheng raised half of his face, glanced at him quickly, then lowered it again and nodded slowly: "Yeah."

There was no need for the secret guards to investigate Meng Qiping's reputation, as it had already spread throughout the capital.

Yuan Yuan is so beautiful, why could Meng Qiping be pestering Zhong Yansheng?

At an angle that Zhong Yansheng couldn't see, Xiao Nong half-narrowed his eyes, with a hint of cold murderous intent in his eyes.

A small character like Meng Qiping was not worthy of Xiao Nong's attention, so he did not care about Meng Qiping last time and did not send anyone to investigate.

But now, he has already guessed who drugged Zhong Yansheng, and he is just waiting for his men to find the evidence.

Zhong Yansheng was caressed by him for a long time, and finally couldn't bear it anymore. He mustered up his courage, raised his head with tears in his eyes and glared at him fiercely: "Brother, are you done?"

Even glaring at people is so cute.

I haven't even bullied him yet, why is he crying?

Xiao Nong was not frightened by his bluffing. Looking at his red eyelids, the evil desire in his heart grew stronger, and he thought of the golden lock in the warehouse again.

Zhong Yansheng has such fair skin, if his hands and feet were restrained with golden locks...it would look even better.

After a pause, Xiao Nong suppressed those thoughts that would scare people if he spoke them out, slowly withdrew his hand, and raised the corner of his mouth: "I am not as precious as you."

Zhong Yansheng was released and quickly moved to the side, creating some distance. The back of his neck was still numb from being rubbed. He thought Xiao Nong was saying that his food and daily expenses were too expensive, so he said unhappily, "I'll give the accountant the money."

Who wants his money?

Xiao Nong found it a little funny and wanted to pinch his face again.

But the child in front of him lowered his head and said in a very soft voice: "Brother, please take me in for a while. When I find a new place to live and bring Yuncheng out, I don't need to stay in the palace anymore."

Xiao Nong's teasing smile froze. Thinking of the child's depressed look yesterday, his chest suddenly felt a little sour.

Zhong Yansheng had stayed in the Huai'an Marquis' Mansion for more than ten years. He suddenly learned that he was not his biological son. The real young master had returned. His position in the Marquis' Mansion became increasingly awkward, and he finally had to leave his original home.

But Zhong Yansheng seemed to have accepted this very calmly. Except for yesterday, he never showed any strange expression, as if he was afraid of embarrassing others. He was so well-behaved and sensible that it made people feel distressed.

But no matter how sensible he is, he is just an eighteen-year-old boy, and he must be very uneasy in his heart.

Xiao Nong originally wanted to pinch his face, but his hand turned to rubbing his hair.

The force of the big hand landing on the top of the head was not very strong, unlike at the beginning, when Zhong Yansheng was unable to lift his head and groaned. It seemed that Xiao Nong had gained experience in rubbing, Zhong Yansheng thought vaguely, after all, Xiao Nong had been rubbing his head a lot recently.

When that hand was rubbing his hair, Xiao Nong could also feel the bitter and cold breath from his body, and he felt very at ease.

Although it will make him a mess, it feels very comfortable.

Zhong Yansheng was thinking quietly when he suddenly heard the voice of His Royal Highness Prince Ding from above his head: "Who is Yuncheng?"

Zhong Yansheng: "…"

Xiao Nong showed no expression: "Why do you want to move out of the palace? Do you want to bring that Yun Cheng out? From where? Who is she? A maid in your yard? Do you want to live with her?"

Doesn't he admire him for being able to stay in the palace? Yet he is thinking of moving out with other people!

Xiao Nong asked questions more and more frequently, and with each question, the force of rubbing became stronger.

Zhong Yansheng was stunned by the sudden change in the expression of His Royal Highness Prince Ding. He was stunned for a while, picked out a simple and clear answer, and said hesitantly: "Yuncheng is not a girl."

Xiao Nong looked indifferent: "Men are not allowed either."

"Ah?"

The secret guards outside the house squatted at the window and shook their heads as they listened.

Tsk tsk.

If the headache comes again, the master will stop being a human being.

Zhong Yansheng felt that Xiao Nong was being unreasonable, but he was very good-tempered and didn't get angry: "But I can't stay in the palace forever, it's so inconvenient."

Xiao Nong raised his eyebrows: "Why not? What's inconvenient?"

Is it inconvenient for this 'old man' to paint secretly? He was sneaky when he bought paint, hiding under his bed like a squirrel.

Zhong Yansheng whispered: "Since I came here, I have been living in my brother's room. I heard from Uncle Wang that you always sleep in the guest room, which is not good."

It is already very rude for a guest to sleep in the host's room, but it doesn't make sense for him to keep occupying it.

Xiao Nong stared at him for a while, and suddenly his expression became lighter, like a spring breeze melting snow: "Are you feeling sorry for me?"

Zhong Yansheng looked at him blankly.

He just felt a little embarrassed. How could it be understood as heartache?

But Xiao Nong's face was very firm. Zhong Yansheng hesitated for a moment, and was too embarrassed to refute, so he could only nod and stammer, "Hmm... Hmm!"

A smile appeared on Xiao Nong's lips: "Okay."

Xiao Nong figured it out. After going in circles, he realized that the little bird was worried about him and wanted to sleep with him.

In that case, he will go back to his room and sleep tonight.

What's bad about it?

His Royal Highness Prince Ding's expression changed suddenly, and his thoughts were as unpredictable as a needle in the sea. Zhong Yansheng couldn't figure out what was going on in his mind. In order to prevent his head from being rubbed again, he simply responded with a soft voice: "Hmm!"

Anyway, just go along with him and answer his questions.

The topic of moving out of the palace was not suitable to be brought up again, so Zhong Yansheng changed the subject: "Brother, do you want me to read to you?"

He is well-behaved and pretty, and he can call me brother.

The urge to bite Zhong Yansheng's butt came up again. Xiao Nong licked his fangs. The anger in his heart, after listening to the report from the secret guard, was completely suppressed, and the thorns on his body seemed to be smoothed out inadvertently.

No matter who is watching Yuan Yuan in secret, if that person dares to attack Yuan Yuan, he will not let that person go.

Thinking casually, Xiao Nong handed over the prepared script: "Read this."

Zhong Yansheng said "oh", took it and opened it.

Zhong Yansheng's fair face turned red little by little: "..."

It's you again, "Record of Golden Wind and Jade Dew"!

He had struggled to finish reading this thing the day before yesterday. He just breathed a sigh of relief and thought it was over, but how come there is a sequel?

Moreover, in the main story, the noble young master of aristocratic family and the mighty general just hugged and kissed each other, and the words used were quite elegant and subtle, much more restrained than the "Ban Er Chai" that he had accidentally picked up before, and it was just barely within the acceptable range that Zhong Yansheng could read.

But in the sequel, the two protagonists suddenly went crazy, sticking together in disheveled clothes everywhere, calling each other "husband" and "husband" at the same time.

Zhong Yansheng scanned quickly and accidentally saw a description.

It describes the young man in a tea house box, his underwear falling to the ground. A storyteller is telling their story outside a curtain, and he is listening to the story while being teased by the general's... fingers. He is gasping for breath, and weakly clings to the general's shoulders, calling out "Brother, please spare me".

Seeing the word "brother", Zhong Yansheng slammed the book shut. The blood in his body seemed to be rushing to his face, and his face suddenly became hot: "Brother..."

After blurting out this address, his face became even hotter. He bit the tip of his tongue and quickly changed the words: "Your Highness! You..."

Xiao looked at him leisurely: "What's wrong with me?"

Zhong Yansheng choked for a long time, and finally managed to utter: "You have been led astray by Xiao Wenlan!"

He told me not to learn bad things from Xiao Wenlan, but he ended up learning bad things from Xiao Wenlan himself!

"The Record of Golden Wind and Jade Dew" actually only has two parts, the sequel was written by someone else after reading it. It was quite popular in the vernacular novel market and was very popular. Xiao Nong's subordinates noticed it, bought it back and presented it to him.

Xiao Nong had not read it, and only thought that the sequel would be the two protagonists continuing to cry and quarrel. Seeing the child's reaction, he vaguely guessed the content of the story, and immediately smiled more deeply: "I haven't read this storybook, and I've been waiting for you to read it to me. What is the content that makes Yuan Yuan so embarrassed? Read it to me."

Zhong Yansheng said with a serious face: "No!"

He also learned to say no.

Xiao Nong nodded and reached out to grab it: "Then I'll read it to you."

This was the first time that Zhong Yansheng reacted so quickly. He jumped back a few steps like a little bird, fearing that Xiao Nong would come down from the bed to grab it, so he quickly called out, "Taxue!"

It kept moving its butt towards his ears, then turned back and let out a cry, shaking its big fluffy tail.

The hair falls off while shaking.

Zhong Yansheng very cleverly threw the book over: "Take it away!"

Taxue bit the notebook accurately, listened to Zhong Yansheng's words very much, and ran out of the study room.

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This big cat usually doesn't respond to others, but now it's as obedient as a dog. Xiao Nong raised one eyebrow high and finally said, "What a jerk."

While he was running out in the snow with the book in his mouth, Zhong Yansheng had already brought back a copy of "The Analects of Confucius", which was beneficial to the body and mind.

For the first time in his life, Zhong Yansheng found The Analects so pleasing to the eye. He tried to keep his pretty red face straight, sat down and began to read in a serious manner: "The Master said..."

Xiao Nong had no interest in Confucius, but he had patience with Zhong Yansheng reading to him. He leaned on the couch and listened for a while, then gradually closed his eyes.

The afternoon passed without any major incidents. When Xiao Nong fell asleep, Zhong Yansheng also fell asleep while thinking about his own things. When he woke up, he found himself on the couch, but Xiao Nong was nowhere to be found. He must have gone back to his business.

Zhong Yansheng changed a book that interested him and stayed in the study alone until the evening. He secretly took a few sheets of rice paper, brought a pen back to the room, and hid it under the bed together with the paint.

The secret guard probably didn't see it.

Zhong Yansheng could feel that the study was an important place for Xiao Nong, and no one else would dare to enter without his permission.

After hiding the paper and pen, Zhong Yansheng went to take a shower without any worries. When he came back, he was in a good mood. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Xiao Nong sitting in the room.

The clothes were different from what he wore at noon, probably because he had taken a shower and changed his clothes.

Zhong Yansheng was stunned and asked stupidly: "Brother, what are you doing here?"

Xiao knocked over a cup of hot tea and asked jokingly, "This is my room, what do you think I'm doing here?"

Zhong Yansheng blinked his eyes and realized belatedly, "Yes, that's right."

It seemed that his words at noon reminded Xiao Nong that this was his own room, and he didn't want to sleep in the guest room.

He had just fallen asleep in this room and in this bed.

Zhong Yansheng felt a little regretful and went past Xiao Nong to get the quilt: "Oh, then I'll go to the west wing to sleep."

Before he could even pick up the quilt, he was pinned down.

Xiao Nong bent over, lifted Zhong Yansheng's knees, and gently pushed him to the inside of the bed: "Why are you running? Everyone is asleep now, so, no one will clean up your room, change the bed curtains, and find a pillow for you."

Zhong Yansheng was thrown onto the bed in a daze. He wanted to crawl out at first, but when he heard these words, he hesitated.

It was late at night and the guards finally had a chance to lie down and rest. It was too tiring for them to get up and work hard to change the beds because of his willfulness.

Then let's change it tomorrow?

The last time was just an accident. He was drugged, and His Royal Highness Prince Ding had difficulty walking, so he was able to succeed.

Zhong Yansheng thought with shame that since His Royal Highness Prince Ding had let this matter go, he would not make the same mistake again.

Moreover, the weather was getting hotter and hotter. Even with the ice jar in the house at night, it was still very hot. Xiao Nong felt cool on his body, and it was very comfortable to get close to him.

Xiao Nong lowered his eyes and saw that Zhong Yansheng stopped crawling out, feeling slightly satisfied.

So good.

It's just that the small quilt was not big enough for two people. Seeing that Xiao Nong also lay down, Zhong Yansheng took the initiative to move the quilt towards him. When he leaned over, the faint orchid fragrance on his body brushed against Xiao Nong's nose.

Xiao Nong's gaze swept over his slender neck which was as white and clean as a lotus root. His eyes were dark and gloomy. Just as he was about to speak, he and Zhong Yansheng suddenly touched something hard and square in the middle of the bed.

Zhong Yansheng lifted the quilt and took a look, his eyes widened.

The sequel to "The Record of Golden Wind and Jade Dew"!

Why is it in his bed?

…

Taxue!!!

Zhong Yansheng instantly understood the culprit and immediately wanted to grab the notebook, but this time Xiao Nong was much faster than him. In a flash, the notebook had fallen into Xiao Nong's hands and a page was turned.

Zhong Yansheng screamed, his brain was about to explode, and he rushed over to grab it, but Xiao Nong held his head lightly with one hand, so he couldn't rush over: "Let me see what content makes Yuan Yuan so embarrassed and angry? Um, 'Brother, please spare me'?"

His voice was low and magnetic, and the content he read out was even more ear-splitting. Zhong Yansheng's face was almost red as a shrimp: "...Brother!"

Stop reading!